Jason Heyward

Jason Heyward, born on August 9, 1989, is a professional baseball player known for his exceptional skills as an outfielder. He began his journey in baseball as a first-round selection by the Atlanta Braves in the 2007 MLB draft, coming straight from Henry County High School in Georgia. At just seventeen, he embarked on his minor league career, quickly making a name for himself by participating in three minor league all-star games and earning two minor league player of the year awards. By 2010, he was recognized as the top prospect in all of baseball by multiple media outlets.

Heyward made his Major League Baseball debut on Opening Day in 2010, stepping in as Atlanta's starting right fielder. His rookie season was remarkable, earning him a spot on the National League All-Star team and a second-place finish in the NL Rookie of the Year Award voting. Despite facing injuries that limited his playtime in 2011 and 2013, he rebounded with a stellar performance in 2012, hitting twenty-seven home runs, driving in eighty-two runs, scoring ninety-three runs, and stealing twenty-one bases.

After the 2014 season, Heyward was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals, and in December 2015, he signed with the Chicago Cubs as a free agent. He played a pivotal role in the Cubs' historic World Series victory in 2016. Following his release from the Cubs in November 2022, he continued his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023 and 2024.

Standing at six feet five inches tall and weighing two hundred forty-five pounds, Heyward is a left-handed thrower and batter. Throughout his career, he has worn the number twenty-two in honor of a high school friend who tragically passed away in a traffic accident. Renowned for his defensive prowess, Heyward has received numerous accolades, including the Fielding Bible and NL Gold Glove Awards for right fielders in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, along with Wilson's MLB Defensive Player of the Year award in 2014.